Rash of Gay Firings Prompt Calls of ‘Unjust Discrimination’

Liberal dissidents insist those in gay "marriages" should remain in Church posts

You are not signed in as a Premium user; we rely on Premium users to support our news reporting.
Sign in or Sign up today!

MIAMI (ChurchMilitant.com) - Following the firing of two LGBT Church employees, dissident Catholics are raising their voice in protest.

Father James Martin, best known for his promotion of homosexuality in the Church, shared his reaction Tuesday to what he's calling "unjust discrimination" towards two active homosexuals fired this month for being in gay "marriages."

"These firings are clearly discriminatory," Martin complained, "since straight church employees do not have their personal or sexual lives placed under a microscope, nor are they 'investigated' in the shameful way Mr. Guevarra was."

These firings are clearly discriminatory, since straight church employees do not have their personal or sexual lives placed under a microscope, nor are they "investigated" in the shameful way Mr. Guevarra was. https://t.co/bmMCyTI8GO

Francis DeBernardo, head of the Vatican-condemned New Ways Ministry, told America Magazine, "With each new firing, the injustice of these actions becomes clearer and clearer to Catholic people in the pews."

And Cathleen Kaveny, professor at Notre Dame Law School, questioned the prudence of the firings: "Is this a prudent and charitable way of communicating the Catholic message, or is it something that's going to make it harder to hear Catholic teaching and receive the good news?"

The comments come in light of the firings of Catholic first-grade teacher Jocelyn Morffi from Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Miami on February 8, and Mark Guevarra, pastoral associate at St. Albert Catholic Parish in Edmonton, on February 6.

Morffi "married" her lesbian partner the Saturday before the termination, posting pictures of the event on Facebook. "This weekend I married the love of my life and unfortunately I was terminated from my job as a result," she complained Friday on Instagram. "In their eyes I'm not the right kind of Catholic for my choice in partner."

The school sent a letter Thursday to parents notifying them of the dismissal. "Today a difficult and necessary decision has been made regarding Ms. Jocelyn Morffi, our first-grade teacher. She is no longer teaching at our school," the letter stated.

Anyone who comes to work at the Archdiocese or one of its parishes agrees to live in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Mary Ross Agosta, spokeswoman for the archdiocese of Miami, noted Morffi was fired for breaking her contract and violating church conduct.

"When a teacher is in a Catholic school and signs a contract," she said, "it is expected the policies, procedures, teachings, and traditions of the Catholic Church will be respected and honored. If something along the way does not continue to stay within that contract, then we have no other choice."

The decision left parents upset. "We are extremely livid. They treated her like a criminal and they didn't even let her get her things out of the classroom," said Cinti Cini, a parent of one of Morffi's students.

Guevarra said on Facebook he was investigated by his employer for two issues before being fired: the formation of an LGBT Catholic support group, CORE, and his claim that he had a male partner and a daughter.

The investigation started with CORE's development without the approval of the archbishop. Guevarra stated his reasons were that the group was in its trial period, and he did not think he needed approval for starting a prayer and support group.

After talking with the archbishop and meeting with an investigator and priest about his same-sex relationship, and refusing to answer direct questions about his relationship, Guevarra was fired.

"They took my refusal to answer as sufficient evidence to prove that I am in one," commented Guevarra. "I believe being terminated for conscientiously and respectfully disagreeing with a church teaching is a slippery slope for all church workers and therefore unjust."

Anyone who comes to work at the Archdiocese or one of its parishes agrees to live in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church and its sacramental theology. It is particularly important, and understandable, that someone who serves in a leadership or teaching role in the Church be a practicing Catholic who lives in accord with its teachings.

Martin defended both employees in a follow-up tweet: "Do bishops and pastors investigate straight church employees to find out if they're living and sleeping with someone of the opposite sex, which is also against church teaching? No."

Why is this discriminatory? Do bishops and pastors investigate straight church employees to find out if they're living and sleeping with someone of the opposite sex, which is also against church teaching? No. This is only done with LGBT people. It's discriminatory and must stop.

Martin is best known for his attempts to normalize homosexuality. He has said chastity is not required of homosexuals, Catholics should "reverence" gay "marriage, "transgender" children should be able to register for religious education under their preferred sex and people who have left the gay lifestyle do not live an "integrated life."

The popular Jesuit also supports a dissident priest Fr. Gregory Boyle, who publicly promotes gay "marriage" and women "priests." Martin has expressed his opinion that active gays should be able to kiss during Mass and insists homosexuals are "born that way" and "can't change.

Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

Get daily updates!

Become Premium Today!

Choose a subscription period:

To pay in advance without a subscription, click here
If you have a gift code you would like to redeem, click here

Create your account:

Email Address

Password (at least 8 characters)

Re-Enter Password

Terms of Agreement & Cancellation Policy

When you place your order, your Church Militant Premium membership will be activated. Cancel at any time to avoid future
billing. By clicking the "Continue" button, you agree to the ChurchMilitant.com Terms of Use and ChurchMilitant.com Privacy Policy. You also
agree that your subscription will automatically renew monthly, quarterly or annually based upon your subscription
option selection above at the current full price on the date of each renewal, until you cancel.